Triangular facades and a sloping roofline give the Museum of Socialism a slice-shaped form, while its 29 ft height and 65 ft span pushes the limits of structural design

Left: Jayaprakash Narayan's face adorns one exterior. Right: The slanted roof of the museum has steps, allowing visitors to climb to its apex.Photographs by Andre J Fanthome courtesy Archohm Consults

Jayaprakash Narayan Interpretation Centre is adjacent to International Convention Centre

This wedge shaped museum’s facade features etched tiles

by
Nupur Ashok SarvaiyaJan 23, 2017

The best lessons are learnt from history, and a befitting example is the Museum of Socialism in Lucknow, realised by Sourabh Gupta of Noida based Archohm Consults. Named Jayaprakash Narayan Interpretation Centre, it houses a series of exhibitions dedicated to the late activist.

The monolithic structure serves as a gateway to the Interpretation Centre and features two triangular facades facing each other. Its wedge-like form also takes cues from the convention centre, currently under construction on the next plot that will feature a large triangular cavity, “like a piece of cake that has been cut out from the main establishment and placed on the side,” explains Sourabh.

The slanted roof has steps, allowing visitors to climb to its apex. The concrete establishment is clad in earth toned terracotta panels from three sides, which have “freedom,” “equality” and “brotherhood” etched in multiple languages.

“Earthy, grounded and natural – technically the second skin in terracotta was imagined to give insulation and exaggerate the design,” adds the architect. “It was flexible enough of being unitised so that it could be detailed with lighting and engraving texts. The fourth facade, towards the end, has a portrait of the museum’s namesake in a large circular format that has been carved from deformed aluminium grill, where each piece gives an impression of the face.”